We fought a great war in Heaven for the ability to exercise our
own agency. However, agency or the ability to choose has two parts to it that
most don't seem miss. One part is the decision, and the other is the
consequence of the choice. Our ability to choose for ourselves is an enormous
responsibility that requires us to learn the all that we can so that decisions
are made in righteousness. We then charged with the consequences of those
choices. As we learn all we can and choose to make righteous decisions, we will
find joy and happiness. KW
“Agency is essential to the plan of happiness. It allows for the
love, sacrifice, personal growth, and experience necessary for our eternal
progression. This agency also allows for all the pain and suffering we
experience in mortality, even when caused by things we do not understand and
the devastating evil choices of others. The very War in Heaven was waged over
our moral agency and is essential to understanding the Savior’s earthly
ministry.”
"We tend to think of agency as a personal matter. If we ask
someone to define 'moral agency,' the answer will probably be something like
this: 'Moral agency means I am free to make choices for myself.' Often over
looked is the fact that choices have consequences; we forget also that agency
offers the same privilege of choice to others. At time we will be affected
adversely by the way other people choose to exercise their agency.
Our Heavenly Father feels so strongly about protecting our agency that he
allows his children to exercise it, either for good or for evil."
~Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Answers
to Life's Questions" General Conference 4/1995
“Victory in the War in Heaven was a victory for man’s agency.”
~Elder L. Tom Perry, "Obedience
to Law is Liberty" General Conference 4/2013
"With His gift of moral agency, our Heavenly Father has
graciously provided us help to exercise that agency in a way that will yield
precious, positive fruit in our life here and hereafter."
~Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "Moral Agency"
BYU Devotional Address 1/2006
"You may be tired of others trying to run your life—always
telling you what to do. After all, you have the right to make your own choices.
That is correct. You have that right. It is your agency. The secret to solve
problems in your life will be found in understanding and using the eternally
beneficial interaction of your agency and His truth."
“The test in this postwar mortal estate is not to secure choice
but to use it-to choose good instead of evil so that we can achieve our eternal
goals. In mortality, choice is a method, not a goal.”
"Much adversity is man-made.
Men's hearts turn cold, and the spirit if Satan controls their actions.
In foreseeing the day of suffering in our time, the Savior said, 'The
love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound' (D&C 45:27).
Violence, immorality, and other evils run rampant on the earth. Much adversity
has its origin in the principle of agency."
~Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Answers
to Life's Questions" General Conference 4/1995
“We are accountable for our choices, and only righteous choices
will move us toward our eternal goals.”
~Elder Dallin H. Oaks "Weightier
Matters" BYU Devotional Address 2/1999
"Some who do not understand the doctrinal part do not readily
see the relationship between obedience and agency. And they miss one vital
connection and see obedience only as restraint. They then resist the very thing
that will give them true freedom. There is no true freedom without
responsibility, and there is no enduring freedom without a knowledge of the
truth."
~President Boyd K. Packer, "Agency
and Control" General Conference 4/1983
"Whenever we choose to come unto Christ, take His name upon
us, and follow His servants, we progress along the path to eternal life."
~Elder Robert D. Hales, "Agency:
Essential to the Plan of Life" General Conference 10/2010
